Zimbabwean adolescents’ experience of their parents’ absence due to Diaspora

Abstract

As a result of the Zimbabwean socio-economic and political crisis many have joined the Diaspora leaving their children behind in the care of others. Qualitative research in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews carried out with seventeen adolescent Zimbabwean Diaspora orphans evidenced a number of emerging themes that illuminate how these adolescents view their situation, such as symptomology of depression, feelings of abandonment and rejection, conflicting feelings, lack of social support, the importance of communication, role changes and additions, materialism, challenges presented by relationships with caregivers, and vulnerability to sexual abuse and molestation. Most of the themes do not appear to be country specific but are shared by adolescent Diaspora orphans world-wide. Defence and coping mechanisms employed by these adolescents to cope with parental absence were also identified. Recommendations aimed at optimising their integration in society and suggestions for further research in this field conclude this study.